Have you ever thought how numerous credit cards you truly have? That is something many individuals ponder over, and it can genuinely assist and it can improve your financial management. Well, in this article, I will inform you how I discovered how many credit cards I possessed and provide you with some advice on maintaining an account of them.
Credit Card Portfolio
My mission to determine how many credit cards I possessed started with an epiphany. Throughout the years, I had accumulated quite a number, some to earn reward points, others for the ease.
Having a collection of cards can be beneficial, but if you are not vigilant, it can become disorganized. I believed it was appropriate to conduct a brief inventory to gain a true understanding of what I possessed.
Account Statements
First thing I did was collect all my Account Reports. I went through email messages, correspondence, and Internet banking notifications to compile a list of all my credit or debit cards.
It was a pain, but it was worthwhile. I ended up with 8 credit or debit cards, which I thought was okay, but then I was amazed by how much some of them were being used.
Credit Reporting Agencies
Once I had my list, I wanted to make sure everything was on the up-and-up. I checked my credit histories from the three primary credit reporting agencies in the US – Experian (credit bureau), Equifax (credit bureau), and TransUnion (credit bureau).
That gave me a overall view of all my credit information. You really need to check your credit histories regularly because they can tell you if an error or discrepancy or if there's any suspicious activity.
Online Banking
Finally, I verified my internet banking to confirm my balance was accurate. This was the most handy approach, since it enabled me to view my financial details whenever I needed.
Online banking is very significant for managing your finances; it provides a brief glance at your financial situation whenever. I understood that having numerous accounts can be quite a chore to monitor, therefore I aimed to maintain as straightforward as possible.
Throughout this process, I came to realize that managing your credit cards effectively is extremely crucial. It assists you in planning your expenses and accumulate benefits, also, it prevents you from falling into a financial bind.
Therefore, I suggest, inspect the number of your cards and consider organizing your cards. You could be surprised to find.